Theatre Talk is On Stage’s new web series devoted to promoting theatre in Ottawa and designed to help Ottawa get to know the artists making it. New episodes go online every month, comprised of segments that can be watched and shared individually or as a playlist. In addition to talking about upcoming shows, show host Chris Ralph chats with some of the guests in special Table Talk segments that could range from the issues affecting our local theatre scene to whether unicorns are, in fact, better than zombies.

This is the second episode in this pilot season for the show. We hope you enjoy some great interviews and great performances!

Segment 1: https://youtu.be/9OPRsxS48q8
— Alexandra Isenor and Sophie Richardson talk about Once Upon a Lingdom and the upcoming production of the Myth of the Dreamcatcher at Magnetic North Theatre Festival.

It is that most wonderful time of year once again. No. The other most wonderful time of year. It’s time for the 2015 Ottawa Fringe Festival. Which means it’s the time we put our entire team to work full time doing our best to provide the most thorough coverage of the festival around.

Every preview we publish, every show we review, every video we post, will all be posted right here in this catch-all article.

To kick you off, here’s the link to our special Ottawa Fringe only of Theatre Talk, where we sit down and talk with the folks behind The Elephant Girls, Crushed, I Think My Boyfriend Should Have An Accent, Whose Aemilia?, and Two Girls, One Corpse. Watch the video here.

ALL THE SHOWS

Below is a full list of every show at the 2015 Ottawa Fringe Festival (organized by venue and when they open). This is your at-a-glance guide to everything we’ve published about each show, plus link up to their official pages on the Ottawa Fringe website.

BYTOWN MUSEUM

THE TEA PARTY

Theatre Talk is On Stage’s new web series devoted to promoting theatre in Ottawa and designed to help Ottawa get to know the artists making it. New episodes go online every month, comprised of segments that can be watched and shared individually or as a playlist. In addition to talking about upcoming shows, show host Chris Ralph chats with some of the guests in special Table Topic segments that could range from the issues affecting our local theatre scene to whether unicorns are, in fact, better than zombies.

In the very first episode of On Stage’s Theatre Talk, we sit down and chat with some wonderful artists about some wonderful shows opening in Ottawa this May.

Producer’s note: Chris Ralph’s referring to the show as Talking Theatre is my mistake and not his. The name change to Theatre Talk was a last minute decision.

Watch the full episode using the playlist above or watching individual segments with the links below:

Segment 6: http://youtu.be/BVc-HON8D7Q
— Paul Benhcke and Rom Frigon tell us about Kanata Theare’s production of The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon
— kanatatheatre.com (The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon open May 12th)

Segment 7 : http://youtu.be/jxe6vQ2xTQE
— Janet Irwin, Paul Benhcke, and Rom Grifon sit down and talk about superpowers and annoying habits.
Theatre Talk is produced by Allan Mackey, Valley Wind Productions.
The show is hosted by Chris Ralph and shot on location in the Acting Company.

Sixty shows will be a part of the Ottawa Fringe Festival this year. There is no possible way to see them all. How to choose, then? We put out a call to presenting artists with a challenge. We’ll meet with all those interested. We’ll give you three minutes (roughly). You convince us why we see should see your show. Kind of like speed dating. In fact, that’s what we called it. In this case, everybody we selected got a literal calendar date. Every day from now til the start of the festival, we’re publishing a profile on one selected show. Today, that show is Little Green Hat’s Tales She Tells.Read the full review.

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Temperatures are in the positives and spring is finally taking hold. Can it last?

For two weeks, I’ve been teasing talking about one-person shows. I realized I can really sum this up a lot shorter than I thought I would be able to. The main question I have is: where are all the guys hiding?

This was an observation I had back in January, talking with somebody about one-person shows when I remarked that almost all of the best one-person shows I had seen were one-woman shows. After more thought, it was still hard to find as many one-man shows that stood out as remarkable. Certainly the ratio we ended up with of really good, really strong, one-person shows – the kind you’re ready to see over and over – heavily favoured female performers.

Note of course, I’m very specifically talking about the Ottawa scene. I was reminded and assured through conversations following my initial question to everybody that if you look nationwide, the ratio is pretty evenly split – which I’m glad to hear.

But that re-begs the opening question: where are all the guys hiding?

Why are (seemingly) the majority of one-person shows, especially really good one-person shows, being created by women here in Ottawa? Even now, at this very moment, I can think of six women who are (a) finishing runs of a wildly successful show, (b) getting set for touring a proven and successful show, or (c) working on shows that, based on their pedigree, are likely to be fairly to very successful. I can’t think of one local male performer who fits any of those categories.

Of course, I don’t know everybody in Ottawa, or what everybody’s working on. I’m only commenting on what I’ve observed.

Is it because of the general understanding that there are already more roles for men in theatre, so women are out there making their own? Are women in theatre, for that reason or any other, more ambitious than men? More willing to take creative risks? Are the men in Ottawa just complacent, or risk-averse? Is it to do with the nature of one-person shows and being on stage by yourself?

I would really love to hear whatever thoughts you might have. What have you observed? What do you think the reason is?

Are the female performers in Ottawa just more talented and/or confident than the men, and so more ready to take on sole show responsibility? I don’t think that’s the case. So maybe I should turn this question into a challenge. Guys, where are you?

Feature Article

Quotes from Coates: An On Stage Profile of GCTC Artistis Director, Eric Coates

And indeed, Coates’ particular brand of medicine appears to be agreeing with Ottawa’s audiences. The plays constituting Coates’ first season, now nearly at an end, have been very well received. “I was especially pleased that You Fancy Yourself did so well. People are resistant to one-person shows but Maja Ardal took care of that. And it was a real thrill to produce Michael Healy’s Proud for Ottawa’s politically savvy audience – I could always tell when any Conservative staffers were in the house by the intensity of the laughter.”

Next week, the GCTC launches their 40th season. We’ll be there on April 8th and will be publishing an article about the 2014/15 season as soon as the launch event ends, along with exclusive comments from Eric Coates about the shows in the season.

If you have an idea or suggestion for an upcoming feature or profile article, send me an email.

Ticket Giveaway

Hedwig and the Angry Inch opens this week at The Gladstone, and it’s time to give some tickets away.

For your shot at winning, I asked you to identify the local actor playing Hedwig in the production, shown in the photo that accompanied the last Weekly. All the correct respondents knew that the actor in the photo was none other than Tim Oberholzer.

Their names were all dropped into a hat (actually an Apple Store bag) and the winner was drawn, making it my pleasure to congratulate Laura Hall as the recipient of a pair of tickets to Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

The Best Theatre Company in Ottawa

Before we jump into what’s on stage this week, I want to congratulate Geoff McBride and Karen Balcome of THUNK Theatre, winners of the Rubber Chicken Award, and the title of the best theatre company in Ottawa, after their win at last week’s Ottawa Theatre Challenge celebrating World Theatre Day. They beat out twelve other teams to take home the chicken(s), including last year’s champs, The Gladstone Theatre.

On Stage This Week

Two new opens this week, joining four other shows still on stage. As always, check out our event calendar for full listings for the week to come and every week after.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (one week only)

As mentioned, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, starring Tim Oberholzer, opens this week for a one week run at The Gladstone. Fans of rock operas like Rocky Horror Picture Show or REPO: the Genetic Opera, this is the one you’ve been waiting for.

It is the journey of ‘internationally ignored’ East German rock-goddess Hedwig Schmidt on a gender-bending quest for ‘The Origin of Love’, after a botched sex change operation raises questions about identity and individuality. Funny and touching, outrageous and inspiring, this powerful and thought-provoking rock musical will prove that ‘to be free, one must give up a little part of oneself.

Drama at Inish

Life and art mix like oil and water in the latest from Ottawa Little Theatre when a group of eccentric actors set up shop in a sleepy Irish town in Drama at Inish by Lennox Robinson.

From Caitlin Oleson’s review: Some may criticize Drama at Inish for being predictable and unsubstantial, but that’s the point. This show pokes fun at the pretensions of actors and questions the role of performing arts: are all good works necessarily those that intellectually challenge, inspire and educate or can a show be worth watching if it is merely entertaining? This is a question that will be relevant as long as theatre is performed, and in the case of Drama at Inish, the answer seems to be: why can’t a show be both? onstageottawa.com/dramaatinishreview

Seeds

Starring Eric Peterson of Corner Gas fame, running at the National Arts Centre.

From Valerie Cardinal’s review: I must admit that I judged a book by its cover when it came to Seeds; based on the subject matter, I was expecting a dry and academic legal drama. The last thing I was expecting was one of my favorite productions this season. onstageottawa.com/seedsreview

Dancing With Rage

Managed to get tickets yet? Keep trying. One week left before Mary Walsh closes out her long sold-out show.

From Valerie Cardinal’s review: There’s no question that Mary Walsh is an extremely charismatic performer. No one can make characters come to life like she can. Throughout the one-woman show, Walsh becomes various members of Marg’s family, a sex-obsessed cab driver, a nun with a speech impediment and more. onstageottawa.com/dancingwithragereview

Murder in Noirville

I wish I had better to say here. Sometimes a show just doesn’t hit.

From Sarah Stack’s review: Murder in Noirville didn’t push the comedy, relying on cliches instead. By the end, I simply wasn’t interested in the climactic reveal. The play’s flaw is not finding the right balance of serious melodrama and comedy. onstageottawa.com/murderinnoirvillereview

The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine (opens this week)

Vacant House Theatre launches its inaugural production The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine at The Ottawa Backpackers Inn. We bring you into the basement apartment that started it all! Come with us as we share in the love, laughter and – of course anger of our unique twist on this wonderful play. This is a theatrical experience you will not want to miss out on.

You are reading the web archive version of On Stage Weekly for Feb 10th to Feb 17th. On Stage Weekly is a weekly newsletter talking about what’s new, what’s hot, and what’s going on in theatre in Ottawa. If you’re not getting On Stage Weekly sent directly to your inbox every Monday, please sign up using the opt-in form to the right.

Thank you for reading On Stage Weekly, your weekly look into what’s going on in Ottawa theatre for the next week.

The spin was pretty obviously negative. It was leading enough towards automatically negative callers that Torontonian, Alexander Offord went to change.org to start a petition asking CBC to start a new, and not negatively spun, conversation about live theatre and the challenges it faces as a counterpoint to their first discussion.

If you have an interest in live theatre – as I have to suspect you all do – then it’s worth taking a few seconds to check out the petition, which breaks it down better than I could without simply copying and pasting, and perhaps lend your signature to the cause.

Beyond that, it raises the question I have for you this week. That being, basically, why does live theatre matter to you?

Why do you choose to go see a live show instead of checking out a movie? How do you choose where to spend your entertainment time and dollars? Equally, what is it that keeps you from seeing more theatre and under what circumstances would you get out to see more live theatre? What could companies do to get your bums in seats more often?

I’m interested in your thoughts on both sides of the coin. Leave us a public comment or question on the web version of the weekly, or hit me up on Twitter @thatmackeyguy. If you want to keep your thoughts between us, send me an email reply.

Ticket Giveaway

Congratulations to Greg Patterson who won our pair of tickets to This Is War, running at the Great Canadian Theatre Company until February 23rd. See below for the reasons you need to get out to see this show.

Sarah Finn and Brad Long in This Is War @ GCTC

Greg won his tickets to by being selected as comment of the week over at On Stage with a mini-review of NORT’s Empire of Dirt. Check it out on our look at Empire of Dirt.

This week we’re giving away tickets to the opening night of Underbelly, being produced by Black Sheep Theatre and running at The Gladstone from February 26th through March 8th. For your chance to win, leave us a comment over at On Stage, or on Facebook. It’s that easy. Tell us what you’re seeing and what you’re thinking about it, or jump in on the question of the week that I asked earlier: Why does live theatre matter to you?

We’ll select a comment of the week next Sunday and the author will win two tickets to Underbelly’s opening night on February 26th.

(Note, only public comments are eligible. Not email replies)

On Stage This Week

Undercurrents (Opening This Week)

Morro and Jasp do Puberty at Undercurrents 2014

Undercurrents starts today! Did you hear me? Undercurrents starts today! That gives you five chances to see each of six wonderful shows up in the GCTC Studio. Plus an interactive show running as an interstitial in the lobby, a Pitch Party hosted by A Company of Fools designed to encourage collaboration on new work, and a revisitation to my favourite show from the 2012 Undercurrents, Live from the Belly of a Whale.

7 Stories (Opening This Week)

As if Undercurrents wasn’t enough, The Algonquin College Theatre Arts grads open their first of three shows this spring with 7 Stories. Since The Servant of Two Masters, presented by last year’s grads, was one of my favourite shows in 2013, I’m very eagerly looking forward to this.

7 Stories is a dark comedy about a man perched on the edge of his life and the edge of a seven story drop. It’s an emotional and wacky adventure as the man’s path intersects with seven other dramatic and absurd stories. (onstageottawa.com/7stories)

The Irish Curse (Opening This Week)

Do Irish men have small penises? That’s the question at the centre of TotoToo’s upcoming production of The Irish Curse, a play about body image as well as themes of masculinity, sex, and social status. (onstageottawa.com/theirishcurse)

This Is War

This Is War opened last week at the Great Canadian Theatre Company and the general consensus is that it’s fantastic.

Drew Moore in This Is War @ GCTC

There’s nothing better than being almost fully engaged in a show to the point where your mind is on nothing but the world unfolding on stage for the duration. That’s what This Is War was able to do, telling its story of four members of the Canadian Armed Forces recounting the moments leading up to a major botched joint operation.

This Is War is a hard yet crucial look at the lives our armed forces lead and the things they go through, physically and psychologically, during the course of their service. For those of us who will never experience anything nearly as extreme as what our armed forces have to deal with, This Is War, is a must attend just from a point of beginning to understand an alien world where the lines between right and wrong are twelve shades of blurred and choices that lead to unintended and perhaps disastrous consequences are par for the course.

This Is War is guaranteed to give you a lot to think about and you should do everything you can to try and get out to see it.

From Matthew Champ’s review: “This play was truly cathartic for me as I struggled with the inner demons of my own opinions of the military and war and saw both the the pros and cons contrasting on stage with such passion.” (onstageottawa.com/thisiswarreview)

Age of Arousal

While I wasn’t personally at Bear & Company’s opening weekend for Age of Arousal, I did get to see how passionately our lead reviewer felt about it. From her and from the other buzz I hear, it seems like this one is fantastic, too. And sexy, being described as a startling and imaginative, modern look at forbidden Victorian desires.

From Valerie Cardinal’s review: “Age of Arousal is thought provoking, discussion-starting, sexy, witty and entertaining. Combine an engaging script, strong performances from a talented cast, great staging and fantastic costuming and you have the best production I’ve seen so far this year. It’s a must-see if you’re a feminist, a fan of Victorian England or just a lover of smart theatre.” (onstageottawa.com/ageofarousalreview)

Perfect Wedding (Last Week)

If you’re in Kanata or want an excuse to trek west, Perfect Wedding is a side-splitting, modern farce that takes place on the eve of Bill’s wedding and sees Bill and his best man attempt to cover up the debaucheries of Bill’s bachelor party. (kanatatheatre.com)

Empire of Dirt (Last Week)

From what I’ve heard, NORT’s Empire of Dirt is a great show. So much so that it will actually and sadly becomes the first show I’m going to be sorry to miss this year. You guys should get out there in my place.

Empire of Dirt is a complex story of family ties and addiction where each character is on their own roller coaster ride and the audience gets to peek into their private family home, witnessing things that should stay behind closed doors – and are, in thousands of homes in Canada today. (onstageottawa.com/empireofdirt)

Colleen Sutton’s RiderGirl. Catch it at Undercurrents!

One might say it’s a busy week for Theatre in Ottawa. Me, I’ll be at the GCTC Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday for Undercurrents, as well as checking out The Irish Curse on Wednesday and 7 Stories on Thursday. Before you ask, hey, what about Friday? Friday I’ll be out at the Mayfair theatre for the 5th annual Painted Lips and Lolly Licks. Billed as the sexy film festival, it features a collection of, um, mature themed, short films curated from local and international entries.

So, yup, no rest until Monday for me, but I’m happy to have it. Let me know what you’re seeing and looking forward to. And let me know what you have to say about the question of the week. Make it a comment over at On Stage for your chance to win two tickets to opening night of Age of Arousal.

You are reading the web archive version of On Stage Weekly for Jan 27th to Feb 2nd. On Stage Weekly is a weekly newsletter written by On Stage’s editor-in-chief, Allan Mackey, talking about what’s new, what’s hot, and what’s going on in theatre in Ottawa. If you’re not getting On Stage Weekly sent directly to your inbox every Monday, please sign up using the opt-in form to the right. We will never share your address and you can unsubscribe any time if you no longer want to hear what’s happening in Ottawa theatre. Remember that sharing is caring. Help the list grow and help Ottawa theatre shine by forwarding this list to your friends and otherwise sharing it on Facebook or Twitter. Read the full review.

Chase Padgett embodies six musical styles and creates six completely different characters to explore what these genres have in common. The most amazing part is that he does it using only his voice, face and guitar.Read the full review.

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